Ivan Rodriguez had a career-high five hits and drove in four runs in an eight-run third inning as the Texas Rangers beat the Kansas City Royals, 12-5, Sunday night. Rodriguez hit a two-run homer and a two-run single in the third and the Rangers went on to their 12th victory in their last 14 games. In his last four games, Rodriguez is 13 for 19 with nine RBIs. Aaron Sele (11-6) got enough support to win his fourth consecutive decision. Sele gave up five runs and eight hits in eight innings.

Scott Schoeneweis started talking about the fateful sixth inning Tuesday night and the Angel pitcher kept going and going and going, kind of like the Texas Rangers during their five-run rally, when they sent 11 to the plate and scored four runs on a collection of cheap hits that belonged on the shelf of a 99-cent store.

Ivan Rodriguez, who doesn't consider himself a power hitter, muscled three homers out of The Ballpark in Arlington on Thursday night. Rodriguez's power display backed the shutout pitching of Roger Pavlik and three relievers as the Texas Rangers snapped a five-game losing streak with a 7-0 victory over the Minnesota Twins. "I never try for home runs," said Rodriguez, who signed a five-year, $42 million contract on July 31 to become the richest player in club history.

Ivan Rodriguez is coming home to the Texas Rangers. The 14-time All-Star catcher who started his career with the Rangers at age 19 was acquired in a trade Tuesday with the Houston Astros for minor league pitcher Matt Nevarez and two players to be named. "He brings experience," Rangers President Nolan Ryan said. "He's a veteran, and he brings us a lot of things." The 37-year-old Rodriguez, one of the most popular players in Rangers history, signed a one-year, $1.5-million contract with the Astros in March and went on to hit .251 with eight home runs and 34 RBIs in 93 games.

All-star catcher Ivan Rodriguez, who angered Texas Ranger officials by playing winter ball despite verbal assurances that he wouldn't, says he intends to continue playing in Puerto Rico every off-season. Rodriguez reported to camp in Port Charlotte, Fla., to begin preparing for the first season of his new five-year, $42-million contract. "I'm going to keep going and playing in Puerto Rico every year, and I encourage other major league stars to do so as well," Rodriguez said.

Ivan Rodriguez hit a two-run, tiebreaking home run in his return to Texas, and the Detroit Tigers beat the Rangers, 8-7, Friday night at Arlington to end a four-game losing streak. "It's good to win as many games as we can," Rodriguez said. "I know that we're here in Texas, but now we came from behind and played a good game and got the win." Rodriguez, playing against the Rangers for the second time, ended a 5-5 tie with his homer in the eighth against Jeff Nelson.

Boston 7, at New York 0: Jon Lester pitched a five-hitter and the Red Sox roughed up Andy Pettitte to end a five-game losing streak. Lester (7-3) made his most impressive start since pitching a no-hitter against Kansas City on May 19. He struck out eight, walked two and won his fourth decision in a row. New York lost for the fourth time in five games. Pettitte (9-6) lasted 4 2/3 innings as his six-game winning streak ended. Oakland 3, at Chicago 2: Justin Duchscherer pitched seven solid innings, Jack Cust and Donnie Murphy homered and the Athletics stopped the White Sox's seven-game winning streak.

Ivan Rodriguez homered in his first game against his former team, helping the Detroit Tigers beat the Florida Marlins, 8-4, on Friday night. Dmitri Young hit a three-run shot for his first homer of the year, and Carlos Guillen hit a two-run homer for the Tigers. "This was a special night," said Rodriguez, the catcher who helped Florida win the World Series last October.

For once, the Texas Rangers got a big effort from their bullpen. Alex Rodriguez hit his major league-leading 37th homer, and Ivan Rodriguez made up for a key error by scoring the go-ahead run, and the Rangers rallied to defeat the Boston Red Sox, 8-6, Saturday night at Arlington, Texas. Texas relievers had a 5.56 earned-run average, 13th in the American League, but it was the Boston bullpen that faltered. "We let one get away from us that we shouldn't have," catcher Jason Varitek said.

Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey Jr. might have found it greener financially in Texas and Cincinnati, but the grass? Seattle Mariner relief pitcher Jeff Nelson believes each win by his team, which has a 31-11 record, has to be a dagger in the heart of the former Mariner superstars. "Griffey wanted to leave and got his wish," Nelson said. "I don't know how he likes it in Cincinnati, but his team hasn't done very well. Alex?